Tightknit species

Tang said that the Sichuan golden monkey is a very tightknit species, and whenever they are attacked by enemies, they fight together.

"On several occasions, I have seen that when a golden eagle tried to catch a monkey, all the monkeys made screeching noises and kept jumping at it one after another to drive it away. Also, when a monkey is injured, others in the group will take care of it," he said.

He recalled that when experts from China and the United States came to the reserve in 1996 to watch and study the monkeys, he helped them observe and record the animals' behavior, gaining a slew of professional knowledge in the process.

"Our camp was located at an altitude of 2,500 meters, and the monkeys lived very close to us, about 300 to 400 meters away. We used binoculars to observe them. I saw that five monkeys were huddled together in the trees every day and did not move. Later, I discovered that the monkey in the middle was sick, and the others were protecting and taking care of him," he said.

Tang said the realization that Sichuan golden monkeys are just like humans — showing emotions and protecting their companions — has deepened his fascination with the species.

Today, the number of Sichuan golden monkeys in the reserve has doubled, compared with the 1980s. Tang said that in addition to protecting the animals, he is thinking about how he can use the reserve's unique natural resources to bring financial benefits to the local people.

However, Mo Cheng, director of the Baihe River National Nature Reserve, struck a note of caution.

"We are very conflicted. The tourism resources here are very good, and we want to open up and bring benefits to the local people, but we are also reluctant to develop because we don't want to damage the plants and animals," he said.

"With the advance of science and technology, we can gradually achieve some reasonable development while ensuring the protection of the environment. That gives us new hope."